DIADEM dī’ ə dem’ (צְפִירָה, H7619, a circle or something round about the head [Isa 28:5]; צָנִיף, H7565, primarily to wrap, dress, roll, a headdress in the nature of a turban; a piece of cloth wrapped around the head [Isa 62:3]; διάδημα, G1343, always indicates the fillet, the symbol of royalty). The Eng. word “diadem” occurs only five times in the RSV, twice in Isaiah and three times in Revelation. Diadem is strictly a royal headdress, and therefore closely akin to a crown. Several Heb. words, including the above, and kether may be tr. either “diadem,” “crown,” or “turban,” depending on the context (Esth 1:11; 2:17; 6:8; Job 29:14; Prov 14:18; Ezek 21:26). In ancient times the diadem was worn by kings as a badge of royalty; hence, emblematic of power and distinction. Thus Isaiah said, “In that day the Lord of hosts will be a crown of glory, and a diadem of beauty, to the remnant of his people” (Isa 28:5). Of Zion he prophesied, “You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God” (62:3). In Revelation where John witnessed great displays of power he saw three arrays of diadems always in the pl.: The dragon wore “seven diadems upon his heads” (12:3); the beast wore “ten diadems upon its horns” (13:1); and Christ wore upon his head “many diadems” (19:12).

Bibliography Davies-Mitchell, Student’s Hebrew Lexicon (1960), 311, 545f.; Zondervan, Interlinear Greek-English NT (1965), 25.